The first feature to take to the track was the 15 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts, with Kyle Hamelton and Barry Taft leading the field to the drop of the green flag. But it was third place starter Michael Grossman who moved out front on lap 1, with Mike Reu and Taft battling for second. After the completion of lap 2 William Michel would spin in turn 3 and collected Trent Orwig to bring out the caution. On the restart Grossman moved back out front, with Brandon Reu over taking Mike Reu for the second spot. One lap later, lap 4, Kimberly Abbott, who started 9th, Mike Reu and Taft came off turn 2 three wide for the runner up spot, while Josh Barnes, who started 8th, was looking for a hole to make it four wide. Abbott won the battle for the second spot coming to complete lap 5 and then went to work on Grossman for the top spot. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 8 Abbott was able to slip under Grossman to lead by inches. The two would race side-by-side until lap 10, when Abbott completed the pass to take command of the race. Abbott then started to pull away, while Grossman and Barnes battled side-by-side for the runner up spot on laps 12 & 13. Grossman was able to win the battle for second coming to the white flag and then tried to chance down Abbott for the win. But she would hold him off coming out of turn 4 to pick up here first win of the season at the track. Grossman was 2nd, Barnes was 3rd, Brandon Reu was 4th, with Mike Reu rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 12 lap Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Kevin Koontz and Dustin Griffiths making up the front row. Griffiths would take advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Nick Ulin and Brandon Symmonds. While Griffiths started to pull away, Ulin and Symmonds would battle for the runner up spot. But without the help of any cautions there was no catching Griffiths on this night, as he claim his third win in five weeks at the track. Ulin won the battle for 2nd, Symmonds was 3rd, with Koontz coming home in 4th.
Brandon Ruffcorn and Ashton Johnson led the field to the green in the 20 lap Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA SportMod feature, with Ruffcorn grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Johnson and Joey Gower, who quickly moved up from 7th. After the completion of lap 1 Robert Gould and Brian Woodruff spun down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gower would use the bottom of the track to grab the lead, with Adam Birck, who started 8th, and Kyle Hill following. Disaster would strike Birck on lap 3, while running 4th, he would spin in turn in turn 2 to bring out the caution. Gower once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Bobby Six and Brayden Carter, who started 11th, battling for second. The action up front was slowed for the third time, as Austen Becerra spun in turn 4 on lap 6 and collects Johnson to bring out the caution. On the restart Gower moved back out front, with Six and Carter continuing there battle for second. Just as Gower was starting to pull away from the battle behind him, another caution appeared on lap 10. This time Brandon Dale, who started 13th and had worked his way to 5th, spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Gower once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Carter finally over taking Six for the runner up spot. While Gower set the pace out front, Carter had to work to hold off Tony Dunker, who started 11th, in the battle for second. The action up front was slowed for the final time on lap 17, when Gould spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gower bobbled in turn 1, which allowed Carter to slip under him to take over the top spot. Coming to the white flag Dunker was able to get around Gower for second and then tried a last lap pass to pick up the win. But Carter was able to hold him off to pick up his first win of the season at the track. Dunker settled for 2nd, Gower was 3rd, Birck recovered from his spin on lap 3 to come back up to finish 4th, with Six rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 20 lap Donnellson Tire IMCA Stock Car feature, with Jake Wenig and Ryan Fullenkamp leading the field to the green flag. Wenig would take advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jeremy Pundt and Fullenkamp. Pundt, who was using the bottom of the track, would slip under Wenig to take over the top spot on lap 2. While Pundt set the pace out front John Oliver Jr., who started 8th, was using the bottom to work his way to the front. Oliver Jr. was able to slip under Pundt on lap 6 to grab the lead away, as David Brandies, who started 9th, moved into third. Oliver Jr. and Pundt worked the bottom of the track while Brandies used the middle to make it a three car battle for the lead. But disaster would strike Brandies on lap 12 when he spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Oliver Jr. jumped back out front over Pundt and Ray Raker, who started 12th. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 18 Pundt was able to slip under Oliver Jr. to take the lead away. But Oliver Jr. wouldn’t give up, as he slipped under Pundt coming off turn 4 for the checkered flag to pick up his third win in 5 weeks at the track. Pundt settled for 2nd, Brandies recovered from his spin on lap 12 to come back up to finish 3rd, Corey Strothman was 4th, with Andrew Hustead finishing 5th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, with AJ Johnson and Blake Woodruff making up the front row. Woodruff took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Steve Stewart and Jeff Waterman. While Woodruff set the pace out front, Carter VanDenBerg, who pick up his first career Modified feature win last week at the track, started working his way towards the front from his 8th place starting spot. On lap 8, VanDenBerg was able to slip past Waterman for the second spot and then went to work on chasing down Woodruff for the top spot. But without a caution and Woodruff making no mistakes there was no catching Woodruff on this night, as he claimed his first career IMCA Modified feature win. VanDenBerg settled for 2nd, Waterman was 3rd, Tyler Groenendyk was 4th, with Andrew Schroeder rounding out the top 5.
Coming up next Thursday, yes that is Thursday May 7th, the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models will make there first of two visits to the track in 2015. Also in action on the night will be the Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, Donnellson Tire IMCA Stock Cars, Shottenkirk of Ft. Madison IMCA SportMods, Coors Light IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts. These classes will use a draw / redraw system, with national, state, regional and track IMCA points being awarded. There will also be no registration fee charged for any of the support classes.
The action will be presented by Armstrong Tractor, Miller Lite and 101. 7 The Bull. Gates next Thursday will open at 5:30 pm, draw cut-off at 6:45 pm, with hot laps at 6:45 pm, and racing at 7:15 pm. Grandstand admission will be Adults $20, Students (11-17) $10, and Kids 10 & under FREE! Pit passes will be $30.
For more information about this event you can visit the website at www.leecountyspeedway.com or call Mike Van Genderen at 641-521-0330.
For complete results and current point standings, please click on the tabs on the top of the page.